Fall of Kabul Journal #3 – Incompetence, Catastrophe, and a Renewed Calling for Leaders, with John McCarthy

The following podcast is part 3 of a series on the author’s reactions to the Fall of Kabul. If you appreciate the content, consider sharing. Last night, I had the opportunity to speak with John McCarthy, a fellow infantry officer, about the events of the last week. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3x5ttEiwBIGpGrnLdkchKW?si=ho8VKeytTguCjgOwCDdAMQ&dl_branch=1

You Get What You Deserve

Arthur Fleck is not a strong man. He shares the same mentality as most high-profile serial killers and school shooters: weakness. People like this may agree with me that the world is horrible and unfair, but they crumble under the pressure of these thoughts. They get lost in the despair and hopelessness of this notion. For some reason, all of these people one day decide that they should take on the role of God, casting judgment and sentencing. They should deliver justice with their own hands. They are responsible for punishing those that caused their despair. They decide that you get what you deserve. What a terrifying thought.

Less Self-Help, More Self-Start

For years, I was getting high out of my mind on the feeling of becoming a more well-rounded human, without actually doing anything differently or making any significant changes in my life. It wasn't until I noticed the enormous amount of overlap from book to book that I began to question whether I was really willing to buckle down and get to work on the things I was reading about, or if I preferred to just nod in approval to myself at inspirational quotes.

Starving a Nation

These conflicts oceans away have implications for us in the US. Echoes of what could become are warnings to us as deep wounds are reopened, spilling forth resentment and guttoral calls for social justice and affirmative action.  Race and politics do not mix. Race and law do not mix. When race and law become intertangled with in one another, the only result is resentment. Every law that is passed with race in mind is another stepping stone down a very divisive path. One that no nation should pursue.